Type-writing machine.



I J. 0. McLAUGHLIN;

T'YPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION I'I;LED SEPT. 18,1912.

Patent d Jan. .20, 1914.v

' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

JOHN C. McLAUGHLm, or JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AssIGnoE T unnEEwoon TYPEWBITER COMPANY, on NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING lYlACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented a... so, 191%.

Application filed September 18, 1912. Serial No. 720,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. MCLAUGH- LIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypelVr1t1ng Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to platens for typewriters, and one of the objects of the invention is to improve such' devices as cardgrippers so that the cylindrical platen of the typewriting machine may be conven-' iently utilized for both card-work and for ordinary correspondence aper.

One of the features 0 the invention resides in means for securing a smooth unbroken surface on the writing field or fields.

of the platen, when the card-holding device is not in use.

According to United States Patent No. 816,174, a clamp, which can be projected at will from the periphery of the platen, is caused to pinch the leading edge of the worksheet or card against the surface of the platen. l/Vhen using the machine for other purposes, the clamp is retired within the platen; its outer edge remaining flush with the printing surface of. the platen and so forming a part of said surface. According to the present invention, the necessity .is obviated of having the clamp remain on the printing surface when it is not in use for holding a card.

In the preferred form of the present invention, the platen cylinder is formed with the ordinary printing surface, which is usually a compound of rubber; and this surface is slit longitudinally of the platen on one side. Normally this slit remains closed. The slit, however, can be sprung open, and through. it a work-holder or clamp can be projected from the interior of the platen.

Preferably the projected clamp engages the top edge of the surface of the platen in such a way as to pinch the edge of the card against said edge and thus hold the card to revolve with the platen. This overlying of the clamp so that it, covers the edge of the platen is preferably brought about by having the slit partially closed again after the clamp has been projected, thus bringin one edge under the lip pf the clamp. V The clamp unslitted cylinder.

is preferably guided in its travel by slides on which it moves; and these guides preferably extend inward from one edge of the slit, and thus preserve the aline-ment of the clamp with the edge of the slit. A handle may be so arranged that on opening the slit to its full extent, the handle is locked in the position it then occupies, so that the slit will not then tend to close. This gives an opportunity for then projecting the clamp. After the clamp has been projected, said handle'niay be moved to a position where'it partially closes said slit, and is locked in such position. The'operation of the handle which projects the clamp may thus lock the slit against being completely closed. When the clamp is withdrawn within the platen and the platen is completely closed (as is usual in ordinary writing) a lock may hold the slit positively shut, so that the cylinder of the platen has nearly the strength of an This lock may be arranged to be automatically released whenever the handle is operated to open the slit.

.Springs' may normally tend to close said slit. The axle of the platen preferably passes through a tube which extends from end to end of the platen and thus keeps the axle -(when the parts are being assembled) from being accidentally thrust into any of the internal mechanism for opening the slit or projecting the clamp. The tube in engaging't-he ends gives rigidit to the platen.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a platen embodying the present invention, with parts broken away. Fig. 2 IS an end View of a platen,

opening handle in operated position. Fig, I

11 is a diagrammatic View showing the operation of the locking device.

The surface 1 of the platen may be formed of the usual rubber or other suitable resilient material, and is fast on two semi-cylindrical steel plates 2, which lates are journaled on a rod 3 extending rom the end 4 of the platen to the end 5 thereof. This rod may be attached to said ends by screws 6. The steel plates at the side opposite the rod 3 are normally held to abut against each other at a split 7 by means of a springS, there being one spring 8 at each end of the platen. Said springs are anchored in ribs 9 on which the steel plates 2 are carried, and on which ribs 9 the journals bearing the rod 3 are formed. Said steel plates are preferably attached to said ribs by solder. The platen may be opened at the split 7, as seen in Fig. 8, by means of bosses 10 which enter between projections 11 of which there isone for each rib 9: and by means of cams '12 formed on said projections, said bosses force said steel plates apart at the split 7 against the tension of the springs 8. The bosses 10 are formed as part of rock arms 13, which rock arms are fast on a shaft 14 extending sub stantially the length of sald platen and projecting at one end through the end 4 of-said platen where it is keyed to a handle 15. Therefore, by turning said handle in the proper direction, said platen may be opened. W hen so opened, a clamp 16 comprising a lip or hook 17. may he rojected through said opening, as seen in ig. 6. Said clamp is formed with guides 18 which slide on guides fixed t0 and extending radially inward from one of the plates 2, the guides 18 having lips embracing the said fixed guides to hold the clamp alined against one edge of the slit 7. The clamp is moved by means of rock arms 19 working in slots 20 in the clamp. Said rock arms 19 are fast on a shaft 21 extending substantially the'length of the platen and projecting preferably from the end 5 where there-is fast on it a handle 22 by which it may be operated,

Thus, when the platen has been opened by operation of the handle 15 by one hand, the other hand may turn the handle 22 to project the clamp 16. When the clamp is so projected the handle 15 may be moved backward so as to partially close the platen again until a projection 24 on said handle is intercepted by a stop 23, as seen in ,Fig. 3.. In

this position the-slit 7 is nearly closed, but is still v izvide enough to allow the clamp 16 to movein, and out of the same without binding. Said stop 23 is pivoted on the end 4 of the platenat 25, and is normally pressed against the outer edge' of the handle 15 by means of a leaf 5 ring 26 hearing against the tail 27 of sai stop. When the slit 7 is closed, as is normally the case, said stop 23 is held out of the path of the projection 24 out the handle 15 by means of an arm 28 noeaose this hook 1s positively moved to lock the platen together by means of a slide rod 32 which is pivoted on the rear end 33 of said hook 29 and is forced inward so as to swing said hook against the pin 31 by means ofa cam 34 formed on the inner side of said handle 15.- A spring 35 normally tends'to swing said hooked arm 29 into inoperative position, drawing the rear end of said hook so as to swing said slide rod 32 outward. Thus it will be seen that the movement of the handle 15 previously to opening the slit 7 will unlock the hooked arm 29.

The clamp 16 is normally drawn within the platen by means of a spring 36 drawing on a rock arm 37 fast on the shaft 21, which shaft controls said clamp. Thus when the slit 7 is opened to its widest extent by the handle 15, the clamp 16 will automatically. be

drawn inward.

The platen is formed with the usual axle 38, and a tube 39 connecting the ends 4 and 5 of said platen forms a hollow member in which the axle is confined when it is being inserted into the platen and then keeps said .axle clear of all the mechanism in the platen.

The tube 39 may be fast on the end 5 of the platen and extend into the end 4 of the ion platen, entering so as to bear against a shoulder 40 formed ih said end. Said ends have extensions which may serve to hold the platen to its axle by means of set screws 42. In this way the tube 39 forms a column against which the two ends are drawn by means of the rod 3 when the screws 6 are set up in said rod.

' The handle 15, it will be seen, is curved so as'to lie around the axle 38, and in all its movements no part of the handle 15 reaches beyond the periphery of the end of the platen.

On the end 5 there may be formed a finger-piece 43 against which. the thumb may rest when the forefinger is manipulating the handle 22. Said finger-piece 43 forms a bent-up extension of a plate 44.

In inserting a card or other worksheet where it is desired to use the present invention, the worksheet may be inserted over the paper table 45 behind the platen and between the lower portion of the platen and the curved extensions 46"of the table 45, and pushed on until its edge strikes the projected clamp which has beenplaced preferably near play are preferably each equally spaced from the adjacent guides 18, thus tending to diminish the chance of jamming.

It will be seen from Fig. 8 that when the boss 10 has moved up to the position where the slit 7 is fully opened, said boss slides in parts of the cams 12 which are parallel to each other. Therefore,when the handle 15 has fully opened the slit 7, the slit will re main open as if the handle 15 were locked.

In any other position of the handle, however, the spring 8 will close said slit 7 except as limited by the shoulder 24' on the handle engaging the-stop23. Y

The handle 15 carries a finger-piece 47,

and said handle at said finger-piece lies closeto the end 4 of the platen. The other end is bent oiitwhrdly to allow the cam 34 tolie;

between it and the platen end 4'. Said cam 34 comprises a'flatportion 48 against which the locking slide rod 32 normally rests.

'Said handle is keyed to the rock shaft 14 by a keypassing through an opening 49 in its'elongated hub 50.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of-the invention, and portions of the improvements-may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a platen cylinder, of a split resilient surface on said cylinder, means for opening said surface at its split, and means to hold said surface closed.

2. The combination with a platen cylinder, of. a split resilient surface on said cylinder, ends on which said cylinder is carried, means on an end for opening said cylinder at its split, and a device to hold the cylinder closed.

The combination with a platen cylinder, of a split resilient surface on said cylinder, means for opening said surface at its split, and a member arranged to be projected through said split to engage a Worksheet on said platen. and to be retracted into p sition as permit said surface to be closed [at the split. 4. The combination with a platen cylinder, of a split resilient surface on said cylmder, means for opening sand surface at its split, a hooked member arranged to be projected through said split, and means tending to close the split to cause .its hook to overlie the surface- 5. The combination with a platen cylinder, of a split resilient surface on said cyllnder, ends on which said cylinder is'carmed, a rod connecting said ends, supports .ing said ribs on said rod.

hold said split part- Way for said surface journaled on said rod, and means for swinging said surface. on said journals to open said split.

6. The combination with a platen cylinder, of a split resilient surface on said cylinder, ends for said cylinder, rod connect- 111g Silid GIlClS, semi-circular ribs ournaled on-said rod to wh ch ribs said surface is fast,

and a handle for opening said split by swings 7. The combination with a divided platen cylinder comprising sections movable to form an open and closed cylinder, of a split resilient surface on said cylinder, ends for said cylinder, a rod connecting said ends,

journals for said sections on'said rod, a lock/8o normally holding said cylinder closed, and a handle arranged to release'said lock and then positively open said cylinder.

8. The combination with a divided platen cylinder comprising sections movable to form an open and closed cylinder, of a split resilient surface on "said cylinder, ends for.

said cylinder, a rod connecting said ends,

journals for said sections on said rod, a spring tending to close said cylinder, a lock holding it closed, andfla handle to release said. lock and positively open said cylinder.

9. The comb1nation with ,a divided platen cylinder comprising sections movable to form an open and closed cylinder, of a split resilient surface on saidjcylinder', ends forsaid cylinder,'journals for said sections car ried by said ends, a springjtending to close said cylinder, a lock holding it closed, a handle for releasing said lockfandpositively opening said cylinder, and "means holding said lock inits releasedpposition.

; 10. The combination" with a .platen cylinder,. of a split writing surface on said cylinder, means for opening said'cylinder at itssplit, a hooked member arranged to be projected through said split, and means for holding said surfacepartly .open with said hookoverlying said surface. I

.11. The combination with a platen cylinder, of a split writing surface on said cylinder, means for opening said cylinder at. its split, a workeholding member arranged to be projected through said split, a handle for'so projectingit, and a holding device controlled by said handle to. hold said split open.

"12. The combination with platen cylinder, of a splitwriting surfaceon said cyllnder, means for opening said cylinder at its split, a hooked member arranged'to'be projected'through said split, a handle for so projecting it, anda holding-device controlled by said-handle and permitted thereby to open with said hook overlying said surface. 3 .13. The combination with a platen cyhnder, of a split writing surface on said cylinder, means for locking said' surface against opening, a handle for releasing saidloclt and for positively opening said surface, a hooked member arranged to be projected through said split, a handle for so projecting it, and holding means automatically brought into operation for holding said split part way open with said hook overlying said surface.

let. The combination with a platen cylinder, of ends on which said cylinder is carried, journals carried on said ends, semicircular ribs mounted on said journals, a split writing surface carried on said ribs, a spring tending to close said split, a workholding member arranged to be projected through said split, and a spring tending to hold said work-holding member within said cylinder.

15. The combination with a platen cylinder, of ends on which said cylinder is carried, journals carried on said ends, said cylinder comprising-a split writing surface carried on said journals, a worleholding member projectable through said split, a handle for opening said split, and a sleeve connecting said ends through which the axle of the platen may pass.

16. The combination with a platen cylinder, of ends on which said cylinder is carried, journals carried on said ends, said cylinder comprising'a split writing surface car ried on said journals, a work-holding mein her projectable through said split, a handle for opening said split, a sleeve connecting said ends through which the axle of the platen may pass, and a rod external to said sleeve uniting said ends.

17. In a platen, the combination with a split writing surface and a work-holder projectable through said split, of a handle at one end of the platen for opening said'split, and a handle at the opposite end of the platen for projecting said member.

18. In a platen, the combination with a spht writing surface and a work-holder projectable through said split, of a lock for holding said split closed, a handle at one end of the platen for opening said split, a cam on said handle which unlocks said split, and a handle at the opposite end of the platen operating a rock shaft to project said WOIl -l10lCl6I'.

19. In a platen, the combination with a split writing surface and a work-holder pro 'jectable through said split, of a rock shaft for opening said split, a rock shaft for projecting said WOIk-llOlClQl', a lock normally tending to loci; said first shaft when the split is open, and means operated. by said second shaft for holding said lock inoperative unless said work-holder is projected.

20. In a platen. the combination with a split resilient surface and a rock shaft for opening said split, of a pair of cams adjacent said split, a boss moved between said cams to open said split, and an extension on said cams between which saidboss lies to hold said split open.

21.- The combination with a platen eylin der, of ends on which said cylinder is carried, journals carried on said. ends, semicircular ribs mounted on said journals, a split writing surface carried on said ribs, a lock holding said split closed, a handle for releasing said ,lock and positively opening said split, a hooked member arranged to be projected through said split and positioned relatively to. the platen to overlie said surface, and a lock automatically preventing said split from gripping said hooked member so thatthe latter may play in said split.

22. The combination with a hollow platen, of a projectable work-holding member, ends fOI'zSlid platen, a shaft extending through said platen, rock arms on said shaft engaging said work-holding member for projecting the latter, a handle fast on said shaft, a main platen shaft extending through said platen, and a sleeve separate from said projecting mechanism and through which the main platen shaft passes, said sleeve oining the ends of the platen.

23. In a platen, the combination of a split,

writing surface, a handle atone end thereof, means. operated by said handle to separate the opposing edges ofsaid surface, a

handle at the opposite end, and a work-- holder projected by said last-named handle through the opening between said edges.

24. In a platen, the combination of a cylindrical writing surface having abutting edges extending longitudinally of the platen, said. edges being separable to form an opening, a locking device located intermediate the ends of the platen to hold said edges together, and means located at the end of the platen to actuate said locking device.

25. In a platemfthe combination of a cylindrical platen surface having abutting edges extending longitudinally of the platen, means to separate said edges, a lock located within the platen intermediate its ends for holding said edges together, a device on the end of the platen for aetuz'lting said lock, and connections between said device and the lock extending through theplaten.

In a platen, the combination of a cylindrical split shell forming abutting edges at the writing surface, means to separate platen constructed to open and close, the

opening extending along the writing surface, of a card clamp within the platen, and movable through said opening to the exterior of the platen when the platen .is opened.

28. The combination with a cylindrical platen constructed to open and close along the writing surface, of a card clamp Within the platen and movable through said opening to the exterior of the platen when the platen is opened, and means to hold the platen partly closed while the clamp is pro jected therefrom. v

29. The combination with a cylindrical platen constructed to open and close along the writing surfacefofa card clamp within the platen and movable through said opening to the exterior of the platen when the platen is opened, means 'to hold the platen partly closed while the clamp is projected therefrom, said clamp having a finger or claw overhanging the edge of the platen at its opening, and means to force said finger or claw down upon the exterior of the platen.

i be opened and closed.

sections together so that the platen may be.

opened and closed, and a work clamp within the platen but movable to the exterior thereof when the platen is open;

32. The combination of a platen c'omprising core sections extending along the platen, a single-piece split printing surface or cover upon said core sections, means hinging said I 45 sections together so that the platen may be opened and closed, a work clamp within the platen but movable to the exterior thereof when the platen is open, and means to close the platen and to press the work clamp upon the exterior thereof.

33. A platen split along its length to open and close, and havin a disappearing cardclamp to catch over 1: e edge-of the opening,

- I and also to retire within the platen-through I said opening.

34. A platen split along its length to open and close, and having a disappearlng card clamp to catch over the edge of the opening and also to retire within the platen through said opening, and means to lock the platen in closed position.

' 35. A platen split along its length to open and close, and havin a disappearing cardclamp to catch over t e edge of the opening and also to retire within the platen through said opening, means to lock the platen in.

closed position, a finger-piece, means operated by said finger-piece to release said lock andopen said platen, a second finger-piece having means to project said card clamp, and to draw'the projected clamp down upon the surface of the platen, and means to close the platen.

36. A platen split along its length to open and close, and having a. disappearing card clamp to catch over the edge of the opening and also to retire within the platen through said opening, a finger-piece to open the platen, a second finger-piece having means to project said card clamp, and means to close the platen.

37. A platen comprising ends, and a body extending between said ends, said body comprising a core and a printing surface or cover, said core comprising longitudinal sections connected by a hinge, said hinge supported in said ends, and said cover'split to open with the core sections. I

38. A platen comprising ends, a body extending between said ends, said body oomprising a core and a printing surface or cover, said core comprising longitudinalsections connected by a hinge, said hinge supported in said ends, and said cover split to open with the core sections, and a Work clamp or holder Within the platen movable to the exterior thereof through the opening of the cover.

39. The combination with an axle, of two platen ends thereon, and a cylindrical platen extending between said ends and split longitudinally, and connected to said ends in a manner to open and close independently of said ends.

4:0. The combination with an axle, of two platen ends thereon, a cylindrical platen 'exlow core sections, means within said sec tions hinging said sections together so that they may open and close, and a cover or printing surface surrounding said core sec vtions and having a single split, said split adjacent to the line of opening of the core sections.

42. In a platen, the combination of core sections, means hinging said. sections together so that they may open and close, a

cover or' printing surface surrounding said.

core sections and having a single split, said split adjacent to the line ofopening of the core sections, a work-holder contained within the platen but pr0trusib1e'therefrom l 1,eee,eee

hevlzng an operating connection With the split when the platen is epen, l

Work-holding member independent of sand 10 through said the end 0f the platen to eclzu and means at ate the Work lulder; h sleeve.

4-3. The com ination Wit a hollow platen u of a projeetable work-holdin member, 9: JOHN MDLAUUHLIN' shaft extending through said p ateh, a sleeve Witnesses:

through which said shaft passes, said sleeve F. E, Ammmme, supported in the platen ends, and a handle JULIUS DUCKSI'INE.

- 120m of this patent may he obtainefl f ax five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. G.

the Cemmmsioner of I'atentm, 

